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I thought folks might feel inclined to comment. Here's what I submitted if anyone wants to crib.

The fees as structured, provide an economic incentive to drive to Great Falls and fail to properly account for the increased costs that the Park incurs to build & maintain a parking lot for those cars.

Under the proposed fees, a family of three who drives to Great Falls all in car would pay $15. That same family of three if they arrived on foot or by bicycle would pay $21 despite not putting any significant wear and tear on the roads and despite not taking up a parking space.

A better fee structure would assess a per-person fee, no matter what means of transportation your arrive via + an additional per-car surcharge to compensate the Park for the capital costs, maintenance costs and environmental damage created by the parking lot.

An example might be:
$6 per person + $5 per car

So that family of three who arrives in a single car would pay $23 (3 x $6 for people plus $5 for the car), if they arrived by foot or by bike they would pay $18 (just the 3 x $6 for the people). This incentivises environmentally-sustainable transportation methods and better aligns the fee structure with the park's costs.

I don't think I've ever driven to Great Falls. Is there someone collecting payment for cars when you pull in there? At most of the battlefields, you're supposed to stop in the visitor center and pay the fee. Since there's nothing preventing parking and walking the battlefield without going into the visitor center, it's easy to become a free rider (or not even know that there's a fee).

Yes, there is a ticket booth at the road entrance...similar to Skyline Drive, you can't avoid it if you're in a car.

Well, I guess have not paid the entrance fee to Great Falls on at least 3 occasions. Just another scofflaw cyclist. I didn't know that there was a fee and don't recall seeing any signage indicating a fee for someone accessing from the C&O.

Well, I guess have not paid the entrance fee to Great Falls on at least 3 occasions. Just another scofflaw cyclist. I didn't know that there was a fee and don't recall seeing any signage indicating a fee for someone accessing from the C&O.

https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/fees.htmThe ONLY location in the park that collects entrance fees are at Great Falls Entrance Station. The entrance station is located at 11710 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac, MD 20854. Over 80% of the fees collected are returned to the park for specific projects. All other access to the park is free.

Because of going there often enough for kayaking, and trips to SNP, I get the $80 yearly pass, which is worth it if you go often enough and can afford it. Otherwise, yeah, if money is tight, just park at Difficult Run (or Angler's Inn, etc.) and walk/run/ride in.

I don't mind supporting the park service, but I would prefer that it were properly funded so that everyone can enjoy the parks. This is why we pay taxes--so we can have nice things. It shouldn't be so expensive that only the middle and upper class can visit them. /cranky rant